Ladder



(No Model.)

J. N. RIOHEY.

- LADDER.

No. 587,608. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

5 ncnms PETERS c0; Mvauwd. wnsmucmm n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES N. RIOHEY, OF CARMICHAELS, PENNSYLVANIA.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,608, dated August3, 1897.

Application filed March 2, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES N. RICHEY,of Carmichaels, in the county ofGreene and State of Pennsylvania, have-invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being'had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to ladders, and the object is to provide animproved combination of ladder-sections adapted to form anextension-ladder, a step-ladder, and also a convenient support forelevating and weighing purposes.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafterfully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of theextension-ladder. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the step-ladder. Fig. 3 isa detail view of the smallest section, which forms the foot for thestep-ladder. Fig. 4 is a detail view.

To form an extension-ladder, sections A and B are arranged in line, thelatter being narrower than the former, so as to fit therein, and eachsection carrying loops or keepers in which the terminals of the rails ofthe other section fit, thus securely uniting the sections. Short section0, which is narrower than section B, is then moved endwise between therails of the latter and into keepers b, or if the ladder is sufficientlylong without this short section it may be omitted, and of course any onesection may be used alone when desired.

To form a step-ladder and also a convenient support for weighing, &c.,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, sections A and B are arranged ininverted-V form, the section ends being interlocked, with the railextremities bearing against the projecting keepers a, whereby they aremost effectually braced, one against the other, and in this position.they are securely bound by keeper D, uniting the upper rungs of thesections. A stepladder is thus provided which may be ascended at eitherside, or which may, if so de- Serial No. 625,729. (No model.)

sired, be occupied by two persons at the same time.

In order that the ladder may be more secure in its upright position,short section 0 may be arranged transverse the lower end of one of thesections to form a foot, and for this purpose said section is providedon one side with cleats E, equal in length to the space between thelongitudinal rails of the section to which it is secured, whereby it isheld from longitudinal movement when in the position described and isfirmly secured to said section by keeper F, secured to one of the rungsand adapted to' extend between the two lower rungs of the step-laddersection and receive the vertical key G, as shown, and said key wedgingagainst the rungs makes the connection most secure.

The step-ladder may also be conveniently used for suspension purposesand for weighing with steelyards, as shown in dotted lines, or to form asupport for sustaining articles while being elevated and for many otherand varied uses, as will be apparent.

In Fig. 4: the step-ladder sections are spread to form a right angle,thereby constituting a convenient roofing-ladder. To enable the sectionsto spread to this position, keeper D is moved to the ends of therungs,'as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, where they are tapering andof less diameter than their central portions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Aladder comprising three sections adapted to be secured together toform an extension-ladder, two of the sections being adapted to besecured together in opposite inclined position to form a step-ladder,the third section adapted to be arranged in transverse position adjacentthe base of one of the inclined sections to form a foot, and devicescarried by said third section for securing it in said transverseposition, substantially as shown and described.

2. A ladder including two sections adapted to be secured together inoppositely-inclined position to form a step-ladder, a third sectionadapted to be arranged transversely at the base of one of the inclinedsections to constitute a foot, cleats on said transverse In testimonywhereof I aifix my signature section adapted to fit between the rails ofthe in presence of two Witnesses. inclined section the loop extendedfrom the transverse section; and the wedge adapted to M RIOIIEY' 5 passtherethrough for tying said section to \Vitnesses:

the rungs of the inclined section, substan- SAMUEL B. GILBERT,

tially as shown and described.

J OSEPH B. RIGHEY.

